Project expected to take a year, cost $5.9 million

Lyons officials broke ground Thursday on a project at the town's wastewater treatment facility that has been under way since 2009.

Plans for a new treatment and operations building and other measures that would cut the facility's operating cost by 40 percent were being finalized before the flood. But the project was delayed and emergency measures took priority after the nearby St. Vrain River overcame the 2nd Avenue bridge and surrounded the plant.

Temporary repairs that were made following the flood costing $270,000 will sustain the plant for the next year while the work is completed, said Gary Berngard, a manager for the builder, Honeywell.

The project is expected to cost nearly $5.9 million, including a $1 million grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

Repairing the existing facility was not an option, Berngard said, since much of the facility is from the 1970s.

The new building will replace the existing metal dome. It will be east of the existing building and feature local sandstone. Appealing aesthetics were a priority for the new structure, Berngard said, since the plant is situated in a residential area of town, on 2nd Avenue just north of the river.

Eliminating odors emitted by the plant is also a high priority in the new design.

Plans have remained generally the same from pre to post flood, Berngard said, but adjustments were made to include flood-proofing the pumproom.

Advertisement

Lyons Mayor John O'Brien, former mayor Julie Van Domelon, town administrator Victoria Simonsen, former trustee Sandy Banta, a representative from Senator Mark Udall's office and Reeves Brown, director of Colorado Department of Local Affairs, spoke to about two dozen people at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Most of the speakers thanked town officials and crews who have worked for the past five years on the project plans.

Lyons town officials, Honeywell employees and guests throw a shovel full of dirt during a groundbreaking ceremony for the new wastewater treatment plant Thursday in Lyons. (Matthew Jonas / Longmont Times-Call)